Beautifully Twisted by Jennifer Domenico Page A

your massively high guard down for ten minutes? You can’t allow yourself to show any emotion other than anger.”
    “You taught me everything I know.”
    He narrows his eyes. “You are so lucky we are standing on a sidewalk right now.”
    “Or what? You’d hit me?”
    He looks wounded. “I would never hit you, Alexa. You know that. How could you say that?”
    She glares at him. “Then what are you trying to say to me?”
    “I’m trying to get you to listen to me.”
    Alexa yanks her arm away and starts to walk back inside. She cannot think clearly when he is anywhere near her. He catches her and pulls her back to him, holding her around the waist.
    “I came here to fix things,” he says, his voice pleading with her.
    “Why can’t you just leave me alone?”
    “I can’t.”
    “I’m going back inside.
    “I’ll follow you.
    “Do whatever you like. You always do.”
    She heads for the door, Scott following closely behind her. They walk in silence to her office, the whole room staring at her again.
    Oh Lord, what must they be thinking of me.
    She really hoped that to the casual viewer, her demeanor had not changed and they could not detect the roller coaster of emotion speeding through her body right now. The fact that Scotty was within five inches of her was disarming. The fact that he had been inside of her again, daunting. What was it about him that caused her to lose any semblance of control?
    He enters her office, sniffing the air. “It still smells like roses. Will you be okay working in here today?”
    “The whole fucking office smells like roses. I’m fine.” She glares at him, wishing he would leave, but hoping that he stayed.
    She watches him select a chair and slide his elegant body into it. In his casual clothing, he always looked like such a bad boy, with his buff arms and bold tattoos. But in his work clothes, he was elegant, smooth, enchanting even. The boy cleaned up good, but she preferred him when he was dirty.
    “What are you thinking about, Alexa?” he asks, interrupting her thoughts.
    She crosses her office and sits behind her desk. “Why are you still here? Do you plan to watch me work all day?”
    “That would be such a pleasure for me.”
    “I have more important things to care about than your pleasure.”
    “I’m sure of it. Lucky for me, I have nothing to do but be concerned with yours.”
    She knows from the tone of his voice he’s planning to seduce her. She must keep her defenses high, as high as they can be with him around. “Don’t come anywhere near me right now.”
    “I won’t. I’m just going to sit here in the chair while you call Brett and thank him for his gift then tell him you’re never going to see him again.”
    “Scott Patrick,” she sits herself down behind her glossy desk. “You won’t like how I play this game you’re starting with me. You’ve been warned.”
    “Alexa Drake,” he leans towards her and taps a finger on her desk. “You won’t like how I finish it if you don’t play by the rules.”
    “I don’t know what the rules are.”
    “Yes you do. Call him. I’ll be right here.”

“Why are you talking about me with Scott?
    Whatever you and I do is between us.”
    ~ Alexa

    She releases her breath and then inhales slowly. Scotty is going to make her speak to Brett in front of him…well then… he’s not going to like it. She lifts the handle of her receiver and dials.
    “Hello, Miss Alexa. How are you this morning?”
    “I’m quite well, thank you. I just wanted to thank you for the flowers. They are lovely.”
    “It seems I needed to do more research. Rumor has it you’re allergic to roses.”
    She narrows her eyes at Scott. “Yes, that’s true. Still, it was a very nice gesture.”
    Scott returns her glare, tapping his fingers over his crossed leg. He is beyond agitated.
    “Listen, Alexa, I’m not trying to be nice. I’m trying to get you in my bed. What is it going to take? I tried dinner, roses, all the romantic